Washing-machine



(No Model.)l

, J. P. CALDWELL an J. C. WOLPN.

Y WASHING MACHINE.

WITNLSSLS: f

ATTORNEYS.

n INVEN-l: A 5M YNrrnn VSTATES JOHN P. CALDWELL AND JOSEPH C.

WASHING- WOLFE, OF GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming pari; of Letters Patent No. 372,114, dated October 25. 1887.

Application [iled November 23, 1886. Serial No. QL'LYOG. l(No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN P. CALDWELL and J osErH C. WOLFE, of Gainesville, in the county. of Hall and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved VVashing-Machine, of which the vi `ollowing is a4 full, clear,

and eXact description.

Our invention relates particularly to washing-machines, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient machine' in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved washing-machine, with the frame-legs partly broken away and the clothes-tub and pneumatic pounder in vertical sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine, with the table in section on the line w Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the upper portion or head of the pounder.

The frame or bed A of the machine, which is supported at convenient height by legs B, comprises parallel side bars, a a, connected by a central cross-piece, a', and end cross-pieces, a2 a2. In suitable boxes, c', on the frame A the transversely-ranging driving-shaft C is jonrnaled, and at one end said shaft carries iXedly a: pinion, D, with which meshes a gearwheel, E, journaled on a short shaft or stud at one side of the frame. This gear-,wheel E or its shaft carries a crank, F, by which the wheel is revolved to impart a much quicker rotation to the driving-shaft C, which carries vat its end opposite the pinion D a heavy balance or fly wheel, G, which assures steadiness of rotation to the shaft and the mechanism driven therefrom, as presently explained.

The shaft C has a crank, c, to which is connected pivotally the lower end of a rod or pit- Inan, H, the upper end or part of which is preferably iiattened and is .provided with a series of holes, h, into any one of which a pin or stud, t, held to a dash-rod, I. may be passed and held in place by a Cotter-pin, t. The dash-rod I passes through a tube or sleeve, J, which'is held in a vertically-ranging semicircular cavity in the frame crossbar a.' by a wedge-shaped block, K. which is fitted iu a correspondingly-shaped recess, 7c, made in the edge ofthe cross-bar, and has a semic'ircular recess or concavity next the sleeve. The block may be easily removed to allow removal of the dash-rod I, with its sleeve J, and when the block K clamps the sleeveto the frame the sleeve forms an efficient guide to insure steady vertical reciprocation of the vdashrod as the crank F is turned in either direction.

The pneumatic pounder L is attached tothe lower end of the dash-rod I and operates within a tub, M, into'which the clothes to be washed will be placed. The tub is held stationary in proper position below the pounder by rods N, which are 'linked to the side bars ofthe frame A, and with which hooks O,Xed

tothe tub, may be engaged, as shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The pounder L is made as follows: The body of the pounder comprises a main or outer funnel, P, inverted and provided with a tubular neck, p, which iits loosely overa tube or pipe, R, which is fixed at its upper end to thedashrod I,-. and projects some distance below the end of the dash-rod to form an air-chamber, r, within the tube. A tubular cap, S, which is fixed at its upper end to the dash-rod, projects downward over the tube P, and is larger than said tube to allow the neck p of the pounder-funnel P to slide upward between 4said parts R and S, and also give room for. a spring, T, which is Xed at one end to the head of the cap S and at its lower end is connected to the top of the funnel-neck p. The spring acts normally to force the funnel P outward or downward until the top of its neck p stands about even or level with the lower end of the cap S, and at which time the lower end of the tube R stands about even with the lower end or part of the neck p or its joint with the body of the funnel P, as'most clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The cap S and the tube R are provided, respectively, with holes s and r', allowing free circulation of air to the chamber r of the tube R and theinterior ofthe pounder.

The spring T is of suitable form to allow the ILO neck l) of the funnel P to slide upward within the cap S a few inches (more or less) as the lower edge ofthe funnel is pressed upon the clothes in the tub by the reciprocating movement of the dasher.

The body ofthe funnel P is imperforate,and within it there is held by suitable stays. u, an inner funnel or cone shaped structure, U, and this inner funnel is open at thetop and is perforated, as at a', at its sides, (sce Fig. 1,) for the passage ofair during the washing process. The lower edge of the inner cone, U, stands about level with the lower edge of the funnel P and coacts with the outer funnel in pressing or squeezing the clothes in the tub. As the funnel P of the clothes-pounder is larger than the space between the side bars, aa, of the frame A, we notch the franieebars at a a" to allow the pounder to be lifted clear of the frame.

rlhe operation oi' the machine is as follows: After the tub M, containing clothes to be washed and a suitable hot or cold washinglluid, is placed under the dash-rod l, to which the pounder L is adjusted, as above described, and the tub is fastened to place by the links or rods N, the crank F ot' the driving-shaft C will be turned and the pounder will be rapidly raised and lowered, and as the pounder strikes the clothes in the tub on the downstroke the funnels P U will be forced upward together, and on the upstrokc the spring T will l'orce the fnnnels downward again, and this up-and-down in'otion of the fnnnels will cause a rapid circulation of air through the apertures s, o", and a', and whereby a strong suction will be produced, and which, together with the pressing of the clothes by the pounder, will very quickly loosen and remove the dirt from the clothes. The dash-rod l may be connected to the pitman H by entering the rod-pin z' into any one of the series of holes h in the pitman H, to adjust the pounder higher or lower to accommodate the quantity of clothes in the tub.

It is obvious that the elothespounder may be removed and a churn-dasher of any approved kind may be connected to the dash-rod I for working it within a churn-body, which may be held below the frame by the hook-rods N when the clothes-holding tulo M is removed; hence the machine may readily be converted from a washing-machine to a churn, and for either service the driving-power will operate with like good results.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a washingmachine, a pounder comprising the rod having a cylindrical cap, S, at its lower end, the tube R, secured to the lower end of the rod and projecting through the cap, the funnel P, having a cylindrical neck, 1;,piojecting abo've its upper end, sliding on the tube within the cylindrical cap and normally closing the lower end of the cap, a spiral spring upon the tube within the cap and bearing against the top of the cap aud the lop of the tube, the inner perforated funnel,and the stays u, securing the two funnels together' and spacing them apart, substantially as set forth.

2. In a washing machine, the clothespounder iliade with a daslrrod, as I, a tube, R, lixed thereto and providing an airchainber, r, and having an aperture, o", a cap, S, having an aperture, s, and fitted over the tube R, a funnel, P, having a neck, p, fitted to tube R, an open-topped funnel, U, iitted within the one P and provided with apertures u', and a spring, T, fitted between the cap S and funnel P, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

JOHN P. CALDVELL. JOSEPH C. VVOLFE. vW'itncsses to signature of John P. Caldwell:

E. E. DIXON, LESTER D. PUCKETT. Vitnesses to signature of J. G. Wolfe:

Trios. P. I-IUDsoN, Culs. E. L. Rochus. 

